Flat feet, overpronation, chirodactylism – these and other orthopedic problems can touch absolutely any child.
Orthopedic diseases are of two types:
- congenital;
- acquired.
But in both cases they are chronic. There is deviation from norm in baby development. Your task is to take action as soon as possible.
Pediatric Orthopedics: Description of Leg Problems
My Canadian Pharmacy decides to start with flat feet – the most common disease in children. To understand exactly whether your child has this disease or not is possible only in 5-6 years old children – with normal development of musculoskeletal system, the arch of the foot acquires necessary form for proper functioning.
Defining the disease is very simple: it is enough to just stand on the dry floor with wet feet – imprint will be completely in contact with floor surface.
Factors affecting development of flat-feet are:
- heredity;
- wrong shoes;
- strong loads on legs;
- excessive flexibility of joints;
- rickets (calcium deficiency in joints), paralysis of foot and lower leg muscles.
Very often parents do not pay much attention to this disease, because it is not very noticeable from the outside and, at first sight, does not have a negative impact on child’s health. But it is far from the case, and you should take a closer look at the problem that arises, because flat-feet disrupts foot spring functions (ability to extinguish striking energy that occurs when the foot touches surface while walking), depreciation almost disappears, shin and hip joint are disturbed the most during movement – it can lead to arthrosis. Quite often flat – feet provokes scoliosis appearance, so prevention and treatment are a prerequisite for children with such ailment.
Next disorder described by My Canadian Pharmacy is overpronation. It can be of different types:
- light, soft-tissue – curable but with efforts;
- bone – rare and practically does not respond to treatment.
To define disease is simple: it is seen with the naked eye, that footstep is in unnatural position (it is turned inward or outward), ankle joint mobility is also broken. During walking, all negative factors are squared.
Most often it is very difficult to determine the exact disease’s cause. For example, in some babies, deformity of the foot passes in conjunction with other disorders in development or is the result of a combination of different hereditary factors.
Also, there may be a deviation of the feet or fingers in and out – side, or even walking on fingers may be observed.
In most cases, such violations occur, as soon as a baby begins to move more confidently by his own. Quite common troubles are connected with thumb: it can deviate inward and outward, be simply twisted, but such ailments usually pass along with baby development. However, if there are no changes by the age of 3, the reason is most likely related to:
- skeleton development;
- deformation of bones;
- muscle weakness.
Prevention and Treatment
Massage and gymnastics will help to form a right foot. The simplest thing you can do is walk barefoot, when there is such an opportunity (at home, on grass, on sand or pebbles). Thus, feet will “grow up” naturally. But if we talk about a “serious” massage, then the first course is desirable to undergo with an experienced specialist who can easily teach you the basic rules. In this case, you can easily conduct a daily useful preventive massage at home.
As soon as you feel that a baby is already confidently walking, put emphasis on therapeutic exercises: teach baby to walk on heels, on toes (you can even jump), on outer and inner arches of foot.
Let him try to roll some small stick, for example, a pencil or a pen. It is also suitable a rubber ball with spikes or a hard massage mat. You can also scratch feet and calves 2 times a day with a massage brush or hairbrush.
Any of such massages is very useful, because it is directed on the feet where there is an incredible amount of nerve endings that can be stimulated with huge benefits to baby health as a whole!
Curiously enough, but for the sake of prevention tempering is also applied. Water procedures help strengthen muscles, which, in turn, will support leg shape in the right position and prevent development of flat – feet and and other problems with legs. You can also make foot baths of comfortable temperature with addition of salt – they strengthen bones and muscles.
Once the kid has learned to manage with his legs thoroughly, he will need to choose comfortable and safe shoes. It should be made of natural materials, with elastic but not slippery outsole. Buy such shoes, in which baby fingers will have enough space. Such accessories must be present as reliable fasteners – tanglefoot or strings, as well as the backs that support heel.
The distance between baby’s longest finger and the toe of the shoes should be at least 18 mm.
It is also important to periodically inspect child’s feet – even small children cannot be deprived of corns. Ensure that the legs are dry and clean – they sweat 2 times more in babies than in adults, so socks should only be made of breathable and absorbent materials.
As a child grows up, his bike, rope and other sports attributes can be added to his lifestyle for the full musculoskeletal system development.
Orthopedic Disorders Treatment
If the child has expressed flat feet, the doctor will definitely advise you to purchase a special orthopedic footwear of a suitable size, natural materials, with a hard back, a small heel and a good leg fixation.
Also, special arch supports are selected individually – they return the toddler’s foot to an anatomically precise position, with their help legs’ normal position is fixed, the right muscle groups work while walking. After 7-8 years, you can switch to ordinary shoes.
The treatment program usually includes:
- professional massage;
- physiotherapy;
- physiotherapy.
In the case of overpronation, in addition to all of the above, plastering is applied. The orthopedist first kneads the foot (puts it in the correct position), then fixes it with a plaster boot, which is platered to knee. After removing this simple construction, the doctor again works with the foot – a bandage of plaster is applied. This procedure is carried out several times. But this is only the first stage of overpronation correction.
The second way of treatment is the use of special fixing devices – orthesis.
In the case of such treatment, the disease in children disappears already after the first year of life, although there are cases where in order to correct overpronation, it is necessary to use surgical intervention – plastic surgery on ligaments and tendons. After recovery, gymnastics, sports and dancing are prescribed and recommended.